A statement issued by Mr Hardwick's office said: "The Commissioner can confirm that Mr Rhodes has been suspended from duty while investigations are being considered.

"It should be emphasised that suspension is a neutral act and it should not be inferred from the decision to suspend that the potential conduct matters have been proven."

The statement, which was also posted on the Lincolnshire Police website, added: "Following consultation with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the matters in question have been referred to them.

"The Commissioner has appointed Deputy Chief Constable Alec Wood as acting Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police with immediate effect."

Mr Rhodes took over as temporary head of Lincolnshire Police when former chief constable Richard Crompton retired in March last year.

When he welcomed the then newly elected Mr Hardwick to the force's headquarters last November, Mr Rhodes said his priority was to work with the commissioner to stabilise the number of officers on the streets.

Having joined Lincolnshire Police as a constable in 1986, Mr Rhodes also worked in senior roles in Humberside and Cumbria before being appointed as Deputy Chief Constable of Lincolnshire in November 2008.